"MERE-AMA "IS THE '"SEA MOTHER"' OF THE FINNS: THEY PRAYED TO HER FOR FERTILITY AND ABUNDANCE. ALTHOUGH KNOWN BY DIFFERENT NAMES ACCORDING TO THE LANGUAGE OF HER WORSHIPERS, SHE WAS CONCEIVED IDENTICALLY BY ALL OF ALL THEM. SHE IS DEPICTED AS A WISE AND MATURE MERMAID WITH LONG AND SILKY SILVER-STREAKED HAIR. HER FAVORITE DRINK IS BRANDY, AND TO WOO HER GOOD NATURE, THEY POURED LIQUOR INTO THE SEA. HENCE, THEY WOULD AMPLE FISH TO EAT. SHE IS THE SPIRIT OF WATER, AND HER MOST POWERFUL MANIFESTATION IS THAT OF THE OCEAN...ALTHOUGH SHE ALSO RESIDED IN THE STREAMS AND BROOKS. SHE RULED OVER ALL OF THE CREATURES OF THE OCEAN, BOTH FISH AND MAMMAL.

"MERE-AMA" WAS CONSIDERED SO MUCH A PART OF THE LIFE OF HER PEOPLE THAT WHENEVER A BRIDE MOVED INTO HER NEW HOME, SHE MADE SURE TO LEAVE GIFTS OF BREAD AND CHEESE AT THE NEAREST STREAM FOR THE WATER GODDESS. THEN, THE BRIDE WOULD SPRINKLE THE WATER OVER HERSELF. IN THE WINTER, WHEN THE WATER WAS FROZEN, THEY GATHERED AFTER THE ICE HAD BROKE, AND IT WAS SAID THAT ALL WHO PARTICIPATED WERE BLESSED WITH HEALTHY CHILDREN.